Steps towards Studying in Germany

Steps
towards Studying in Germany

Foreign
nationals who wish to study at a German university or high-school
generally need a
visa.
They also need to prove that they have adequate ability in the German
language. This is usually
accomplished by either passing the 'DSH' exam or taking the one-year
'Studienkolleg'
course.

This page is to inform those wishing to study in Germany which steps to
take.

DSH is an abbreviation for "Deutsche Sprachprüfung
für den Hochschulzugang
ausländischer Studienbewerber", the German Language exam for
foreign applicants for higher learning, set by the German universities
to test whether
an applicant has sufficient knowledge of German to be able to study
here.

Who needs the DSH ?

- all those who wish to study at higher level at a German institution
and whose school certificate,
like the German Advanced Level Certificate ('Abitur'),
would allow them to enter university back home.

What is the DSH for ?

The universities want to ensure that foreign students have the language
ability
that studying in Germany demands.

This means that the applicant :

- will be able to follow lectures and to take notes.

- will understand scientific texts and be able to analyse them.

- will be capable of giving a written or oral dissertation on any given
topic.

What is the 'Studienkolleg' ?

The Studienkolleg is a teaching institution which aims to bridge the
gap between a foreign Advanced Level school certificate taking 12
years, and the German
certificate,
which takes 13 years. Lately, certain German states, including Bavaria,
are starting
to reduce the time at grammar school from 9 to 8 years; thus it will
take at least this long
before the foreign and German A-levels are regarded as equivalent.

This means that many foreign applicants still need to take the
Studienkolleg
course. In addition to German, other
subjects are taught during the course year as preparation for
university entry.